Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Ardis, Arnold, Aureomarginatum
Number of Varieties
83
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Bluffs, low mountains, Moist Soils, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-125-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9-2
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm1,830.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm1,070.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Orange, Light Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Lime Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Prune ocassionally, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in spring, Fertilize the soil instead of direct applying, Mulch
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
fusarium canker, nectria canker, yellow-poplar weevil
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Soil Compaction
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Arthritis, Digestion problems, Fever, Inflammation, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Whole plant
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Employed in herbal medicine, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Food for animals, Grown for shade, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
LIRIODENDRON tulipifera
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
ट्यूलिप पेड़
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Tulpenbaum
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
tulipier
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
árbol de tulipán
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
δέντρο τουλίπα
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
árvore de tulipa
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
tulipanowiec
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Tulipa arbore
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Magnoliales
Family
Cactaceae
Magnoliaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Liriodendron
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
22
1
27800
👆🏻